10 Essential Hobo Uses for Kerosene: Home Remedies, Horse Care, and Farm Hacks

Discover the top 10 hobo uses for kerosene, a versatile solution for various home remedies and farm needs. Learn how hoboes utilized kerosene for personal care, horse treatment, and machinery maintenance with simple, portable mixtures. Explore these timeless kerosene hacks that no hobo would travel without!

[swampyankee]

When a video comes with a legal disclaimer, you know it will be awesome! 🤣

[teddahrable]

James,
I am 60 years old. My Grandmother used kerosene on us as kids for lice. Kerosene used for worms was a fairly common treatment when I was growing up in rural Nova Scotia. Kerosene and pine tar was used for insect repellent. Kerosene and camphor was used for chest plasters to relieve congestion and pneumonia.
Today, it's all pharma ...
Thanks for the video.

[TheBlueRoan]

I am 50+ and grew up in Louisiana. My grandparents told us about coal oil. One story was about how my Grandpa was clearing downed trees after a hurricane and split his foot wide open with an ax. He put the injured foot in a wash tub and poured coal oil over the injury and allowed it to soak. It stopped the bleeding and the injury healed up without stitches or infection. He never visited the doctor either.
On a personal note, as child I once made the mistake of telling my Grandma that I had a sore throat. She took me to the bathroom where she kept a long wooden stick (think chop stick) with a cotton ball on one end. She proceeded to dip the cotton ball in coal oil and swab the back of my throat with coal oil. I NEVER complained to Grandma about a soar throat ever again.

[Traderjoe]

About 20 years ago I was a meter reader for my electric company and I was reading meters in an area of black folk and I was in this lady’s yard and was bitten by bees. My arm swelled up and she heard me hollering and she came out with a bottle of white ammonia and a cotton rag and applied it to the bee sting. It immediately took the pain away and the swelling went down. I couldn’t believe it. And now I keep a bottle in my cupboard for that purpose. Medical advice? No. But a possible remedy when nothing else is available? He’ll yeah

[WillysCJ]

As a youngster I caught the Hong Kong flu. Vets returning from Vietnam brought it with them. It went through my small school. My parents were old fashion about doctors. So while I was at my grandparents who were even more old fashion I got a tea cup full of hot water, sugar and kerosene. Did it help? Well eventually I got over it and lived so it didn't kill me. Next to taking mineral oil or cod liver oil I am not sure what is worse. I have no problem with modern medicine. Don't get me wrong old stuff worked. I stepped on a rusty nail tearing a hog house down. It got infected so I could hardly step on it. My father saw it, took me to the bathroom, run hot water in the tub and added ebsom salts. It drew out the inflamation and it healed with no problems.

[d.c.marsha]

My grandfather (WV Hillbilly) told me a ton of uses for kerosene, one use he mentioned was that in the coal mines they often used kerosene as antiseptic for wounds.

[stacymorris]

Kerosene had a pretty high sulphur content back in the days of the hobo. The EPA has forced the refineries to change the way they produce diesel and kerosene now. I’m sure the sulphur content was what made the kerosene effective.

[zednott]

when i was a kid my mom used to wash our hair with Kerosene when ever there was a head lice scare at our school. made your hair really soft.

[matthewbrown]

During WW II rationing occurred around the world. My grandfather converted his car to run on Kerosene - this meant more fuel for him. He also cut the back & converted the car into a UTE (Utility) like a pickup truck that made his vehicle a commercial vehicle. He was a genius man who never went to school after 10 but was fully literate & loved reading. Kerosene has so many uses & I know it's uses for infections & lice too. Never had lice but seen it used to wash bed linen for kids too.

[edwardknudsen]

Evolved into Vaseline and Vicks Vapo rub.great video.

[johnfranks]

The story from the 90-year-old man sounds familiar. My dad was born on a small farm in 1932. Pouring kerosene into or onto a wound and wrapping it with a clean rag was my grandparents' go-to first aid for most cuts and punctures. My father and his siblings did not go to doctors because there was not money to pay the doctor during the Depression or WW2, except for setting a broken bone or delivering a baby.

[pollyjazz]

When I was young i was taught by a very old carpenter to use kerosene to treat furniture that was infected by worms. I've always been a keen dumpster diver and have found absolutely amazing pieces of furniture. Whereas originally I would discard anything that had the telltale little holes in it I then was able to salvage and restaur most anything without fear of bringing the wood bugs into my house. To be safe I'd use a sponge dipped in kerosene to wipe down any piece of furniture before bringing it into my house and if it was visibly infected I'd inject the kerosene into the holes with a sirynge and let it fully dry out before starting the restuaration process. If anyone else trays this remember: do this outside. Wear a mask and gloves. And absolutely no smoking or running any machinery that can create sparks near the kerosene!😜

[independentthinker]

Old remedies can be very useful, some can be harmful.

[hdrvman]

Wow....I would have never imagined..!!! Lol...I still have 10 gallons that I put away for Y2K

[varnellhopkinsiii]

Yesterday I was telling an old army buddy of mine that kerosene is great for cleaning firearms. I used to use a tub of straight kerosene for cleaning my rifle and it removed massive amounts of dirt without damaging the finish. I still use it as an alternative to buying CLP. I use 2 parts kerosene, 1 part light motor oil and one part transmission fluid. It works very well.

[Doc]

As a child on the farm when we’d get a cut or get stung, my mom would always want to put something from the store on it, but my grandma told my mom to get some kerosene and apply it.
Mom reluctantly tried it once and saw how well it worked, so from then on, kerosene was our “go to” for bug bites, stings and mild abrasions or cuts

[lastfirst]

Kerosene is the main ingredient of WD 40. The WD stands for water displacement. The YouTube channel by scotty Kilmer said people in nothern climates would spray WD 40 all on the suspension parts etc. to minimize oxidation of metal.

[DrDennis]

They also used to give you a tsp turpentine orally in the 20’s-40’s for various ailments.

[craigeckhoff]

50 of 74 years a hobo. Another great video. My granny would use for deep cleaning lots of stuff like sinks and even clothes. Mattresses for bedbugs etc. Lice of course. Denatured kerosene is a prime ingredient still used to kill lice in over the counter products.

[foggynight]

Kerosene is amazing, solvent oil. With regards to machinery it almost loosens up rust and also leaves behind an oily film once it evaporates. When used on a stuck part it helps grind away the rust and protects from future oxidation. I bought 40L for $40 years ago and it might last me for life lol, modern oil is only needed for modern low tolerance machinery.